Permits, citizenship fees up 300%
Fees for permits and citizenship have jumped by an average 366.57 percent effective November 1 2014, it has been established.
This comes after government also raised passports by about 320 percent on the same day.
The permit fees were adjusted at the same time with that of passports, but communication delayed, according to Immigration spokesperson Martha Gonondo.
Initially, permits were being paid in the local currency, but the current prices are in United States dollar.
Information from the Immigration Department shows that citizenship fees have gone up 467.51 percent whereas those on permits are up by 220.51 percent.
The current fees show that Temporary Employment Permit for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is at $500 (K250 000 at K500 per dollar), for religious organisations at $100 (K50 000) while others will pay $1 000 (K500 000).
Before the increase, NGOs were paying K60 000, religious leaders K30 000 and the rest K120 000.
Normal (investments in government priority sectors) business residence permit is at $2 000 (K1 million) while the rest has been pegged at $3 500 (K1 750 000). Initially, both were at K500 000.
Permanent resident permit fee is at $250 (K125 000) for a spouse of a Malawian citizen up from K30 000 while in other areas it is $2 500 (K1 250 000) up from K300 000.
Others that have gone up are Temporary Residence Permit, Students Permit, Dependants of Permit Holders and Emergency Travel Documents.
On citizenship, included are applications by Commonwealth citizens, spouse of a Malawian citizen by registration, Stateless and alien for naturalisation.
Gonondo justified the increase, saying the last time it was effected was in 2008.
“Again, while we encourage investments, the (fees) increase will control people that are coming into the country,” she said.
